SCOTTSBLUFF— Throughout Stroke Awareness Month in May, Regional West encourages people to learn the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of stroke.
The American Stroke Association (ASA) states that a stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot (ischemic stroke) or bursts (hemorrhagic stroke). A transient ischemic attack (TIA), or ‘mini-stroke,’ blocks blood flow to the brain for a short period of time.The brain is then deprived of the blood or oxygen it needs, leading to brain cell death. Stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States.
Regional West Stroke Program Coordinator Janelle Schroeder, RN, MSN, SCRN, said learning the warning signs of stroke can be lifesaving.
